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Mars One mission to establish human colony could set space exploration back decades

KIM LANDERS: A human mission to Mars has long been the subject of science fiction, but there's a Dutch company that's determined to make it a reality.

Seven Australians have been shortlisted from more than 200,000 applicants worldwide for the one-way mission to Mars in 2026.

The Mars Society of Australia is warning this project could set space exploration back by decades, because it lacks the technology and funding to get people to Mars, let alone keep them alive in space.

However, one potential astronaut says he's prepared to risk his life for the benefit of space exploration.

Lucy Martin has more.

LUCY MARTIN: Lots of kids dream of being an astronaut, but for Perth comedian Josh Richards, the dream is close to being reality.

The 29-year-old has been shortlisted for the Mars One mission, an ambitious project aiming to send 24 people on a one-way trip to establish a colony on the planet in 2026.

JOSH RICHARDS: For me it's quite vital that we go one way. Going to Mars one way is far simpler than trying to bring people back and it will change the way we see ourselves as a species, because kids will literally be able to point up to Mars in 10 years time and know that there's people living up there, not just that we visited.

LUCY MARTIN: More than 200,000 people across the world applied to be involved, with seven Australians making the shortlist.

The Dutch-based organisation behind the mission has attracted criticism over its plans to broadcast the mission in a Big Brother-style reality TV show.

Graham Mann is an engineer and a member of the Mars Society of Australia.

GRAHAM MANN: Even if those people are perfectly sincere when they say we will stake our lives on this, if the world was to stand by and watch while a whole lot of people they'd been barracking for all the way were to slowly suffocate to death or to somehow die very unpleasantly, I don't know that the world would forgive the space agencies, anybody interested in space research and the media in general for allowing that to happen.

LUCY MARTIN: Mars One is working with sponsors and investors to raise US$6 billion to buy equipment for the mission from third party suppliers.

Dr Graham Mann says the space community would love to see the mission succeed.

But he says it's still not clear whether the technology to keep people alive will be available to Mars One by 2026.

GRAHAM MANN: Without a better organised business plan and better technology in place and a much more detailed plan about how they would actually deliver the services required to get people to continue to live on Mars, I do think it's a little on the irresponsible side to be honest.

Those are brave, wonderful people that are willing to stake their lives on this.

I want them to have the mission they deserve, and this one isn't quite it, but maybe it could turn into one in the future.

LUCY MARTIN: It might sound pie in the sky, but Mars One is being taken seriously.

The project has recruited dozens of experts, including former NASA employees, to advise on the mission and counts a Nobel Prize winner among its supporters.

Dutch man Bas Lansdorp is the project's co-founder.

BAS LANSDORP: I agree it is definitely risky and it's defiantly worth the risk.

Going to Mars is the defining moment of the 21st Century.

I believe that this project can change the world.

LUCY MARTIN: Mr Lansdorp says a series of unmanned missions starting in 2020 will allow researchers to test out technology and set up infrastructure.

BAS LANSDORP: There's two important technology steps that need to be taken.

One is entry dissent and landing, so landing something on Mars.

The other one is the suits for a mission affirmative settlement.

It's very important that the astronauts have suits that they can use for an extended period of time without replacing too many components.

LUCY MARTIN: Perth comedian Josh Richards believes he's more than qualified to go into space, with a degree in applied physics and experience serving with the British commandos as a combat engineer.

Not all of the candidates share those skills but Mr Richards says they can learn before they go.

JOSH RICHARDS: In Mars One's case, it's far more important that people have the right personality and they know how to work together in teams than it is to actually have those initial qualifications.

We're potentially looking at 12 years before any of us are actually looking to do the actual mission to Mars itself.

LUCY MARTIN: Mr Richards says he's well aware of the risks involved.

JOSH RICHARDS: The reality is it is an incredibly dangerous thing to be doing in the first place.

People die. NASA in particular has been talking about Mars being 20 years away for the last 40 years.

So unfortunately, because of the conservatism that's involved in large government organisations, they are trying to remove every element of risk and the reality is you're never going to do that.

This is a dangerous expedition.

LUCY MARTIN: Mr Richards has quit his day job and moved to Melbourne to pursue his dream of going into space.

Along with 100 other shortlisted candidates, he'll find out next year if he's made the final cut.

If successful, he'll have to dedicate the next 10 years of his life to the mission, but says he won't be too disappointed if he's not chosen or the project doesn't get off the ground.

JOSH RICHARDS: Mars One has given people from everywhere around the world the opportunity to be involved and find a passion for space.

So if it all fell apart tomorrow, I feel like we've done far more good for this planet just by hoping, by putting this out there as an idea than by not proposing it in the first place.